Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1887-03-26
ssly as he tightens his grip on the

erals. Now Abe Potts bent Forward,
drawing himself away from bic daugh-
ter's clinging clasp.
"Pete's done dead, men," muttered the
old man in a hoarse, choked voice,
.'he's layin' now beck thar benin the
house, with the weepin' willer he plant
ed, shsdin' his grave. Rod'rick thar.
brung him home ter dep he gasped
brokenly, ''soldiers, he WIZ all he'd.
My Pete-so brave SIGH fine fig
ger; when he rid iway with the Vargin-
nv grays my heart swelled till it wuz
nigh Dustin; but l gin him to my coun-
try, an thet's all tibet is lefs o him tibet
thar hoss." Old Potts sighed, then
went on with an effort.
Zone evenin' we hyard bosses hoofs
an we knowed it war Rod'rick-he cum
in ther night an when 7 hep out the
light to m AXE shore twas him I never
seed nothiu' at fust but Rod'rick, his
eyes shinin' like Goals of fire; purity
soon seed somethin' tied acrost his
back-it wor my Pete! an soldiers you
sent my boy back home to die with a
bullet through his breastp and the old
man threw out his arms wildly, then
turned and hid his face on Roxy's
shoulder.
Not man but felt that simple story
touch his heart and Toby's big brown
ewes were wet with unshed tears.
The boy was clinging close to bis
father now.
"Say, pap, amt yer done got mel"
he whispered, wistfully.
"No, T don't want yer" cried the faith
or, bitterly. "Thsy've TUX my Pete an
what air you in his placer SO the child
shrunk, trembling and repulsed, down
by the bundle of whitening sumac. The
soldiers were going away quietly, leav-
ing the old man in peace, when afar up
the mountain road they discerned men
in gray, fastening in their direction.
"Boysl' cried one, as he sprang on
Roderick's back, 1--WE might as we'll have
this horse as those srsbsP Old. man,
you'll have to lose your horse anyhow
now he's gone in good cause!" and the
others, following their leader, made haste
to get into the road and away to place
of safety, leaving Abe Potts frozen to the
ground with wonder and despair. That
night, as Roxy sat sadly knitting socke
for those who we're fighting SO bravely,
Toby came up and leant his elbows on
her knees.
"Roxy." he whispered, IF ye don't
see lobe any more arter ter-night, doa't
be skeered! I'm agoin' arter Rod'rick,"
he said, solemnly, as his sister started
with surprise.
''No, no, Tober' winding her strong
young arms about his thin little form.
"You've got ter stay hyar an take
keer of us now," she murmured sooth-
1ngly, as gently swaying to and fro she
rocked his head in her lap. Two big
tears fell on her busy fingers, then press
ing kiss on her sunburnt cheek, he
drew near the bright wood fire and sat
still holding his face between his hands,
watching, perhaps for the last time, the
pine knots blaze and burn; watching till
the light died down to red ashes then
into dust. When the sun rose
again, gliding the purple mountain
peaks and touching the tiny clouds till
they glowed like silver, Toby was far on
bis way to the Federal camp.
Morning waxed to noontide, and still
The little figure in patched clothes Gov
cred with dust travelled unweariedly.
Now and then stopping to battle his feet
in some wayside spring, or snatching a
fallen apple kissed too holly by the
autumn sun, on and on past the swelling
hills, fond and projecting as mothers
breasts, till the long shadows stretch,
ike giants arms, toward the sea. An
other turn in the rocky road and Toby
SECS tents pitched close at hand, before |
which sentinels in blue uniform pass in
Toby brings no passport, nothing but
4 brave heart and pair of big brown
eyes, bright now with great hope.
"Want to be stable boy, do you,
Johnny Reb?" laughs the soldier.
Toby pulls his forelock in imitation of
military etiquette. It pleases the man,
Who slapping him not unkindly on his
hin shoulders, pushes him toward the
Enclosure. "There's the stable Go see
What you can dopr
'Saddls the Lew horse for the colonel
you CAM can't manage him." shouts
private.
An instant, and the boys hand presses
he horses neck-wen do they know
ach other, playmates for years. The
orse bends his glossy neck in loving
The color comes and goes
4 Toby's cheek like pulse. This is
he moment for him to act, and like a
ash he is in his accustomed seat and to-
ether they dash at the rude log fence,
Tearing it at one bound and fly madly
cross the grass out to the open road. !
! whistling sound breaks the air near
'oby's hesd-another and another as {
hey go like q pent-up storm. To- i
Us hat lies back in the camp and his
air flies out straight behind him. With